Three Sides to Every Story: The History Behind Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Styxx

Sherrilyn Kenyon shocked her fans when she announced the next character book in her amazingly dynamic Dark-Hunters series would feature Styxx and tell his side of the story. I had many friends emailing and tweeting me, asking, “who is heck is Styxx and why do we care?”

Oy vey.

Styxx is the twin brother of Acheron Parthenopaeus (Ash). His full name is Styxx of Didymos. Born a prince in 9548 BC, his parents were the king and queen of Didymos. Though he has always believed himself to be Ash’s older brother, we learn later this is not case. During his mortal life, he was embarrassed by Ash and thus humiliated him at every chance.

It’s only when Ash is killed by Apollo does Styxx learn of the unbreakable ties that bind him to Ash. And what Ash really is. We first meet Styxx in Night Pleasures. Styxx is seen again in Night Embrace, when he teams up with Dionysus to bring about the end of the world. He fails, of course, and is sent to Tartarus by Artie-the red-headed eifer goddess (Artemis). Artie further punishes Styxx by giving him all of Ash’s childhood memories.

“What was Dionysus going to go? Send him back to his hellish
isolation? He’d been there, done that, and had the Ozzy T-shirt to prove it.’ (Styxx)”

Glimpses of Styxx are also seen in Dark Side of the Moon, Sins of the Night, and The Devil May Cry. It isn’t until Ash’s book, Acheron, that Styxx is fully introduced and his character explored. Here we learn exactly who Styxx is and the importance he has in Ash’s life. The first half of the book is his and Ash’s childhood and it’s brutal, to say the least. Styxx despises Ash. It’s quite easy to hate Styxx for the part he plays in Ash’s misery.

“Guards! Take the bastard out and beat him!“ (Styxx)

”Tell me something, brother. What angers you most about me? The fact I share your face or the fact I know exactly what your best friend wants to do to you…and how often? Good to see you again, Lord Dorus, especially clothed.“ (Acheron)

By the end of this book, Styxx and Ash make peace, sort of, and Ash sends Styxx to New York to start his life anew and try to forget his past.

“To err is human, to forgive divine. (Acheron)

”I don’t ask for your forgiveness. I don’t deserve it.

I only ask for a chance to show you now that I’m not the fool I was once."(Styxx)

Styxx, being Ash’s identical twin, stands 6’8” tall. Blond hair and blue eyed, he, like Ash, turns many womens' heads, but unlike Ash, Styxx is NOT a god. He carries a sun tattoo on his back, his weapon of choice is the javelin, and his greatest enemy is Ash. When Kenyon was asked why on earth she would devote an entire book to him, a character most fans despise, she replied with this message, taken from her website:

I know, I know. I've said a million times that I was too mad at Styxx to write his story. Ever. I know...

Then one day as I sat quietly thinking, Styxx walked in and sat down next to me.

He didn't listen. Instead, he made me realize that I, like everyone else, including Acheron, had misjudged him. I saw the events of the past not through Acheron's eyes. I saw them through Styxx's and what an awakening it was.

As I've always said, there are three sides to every story. Yours. Theirs. And
the truth that isn't clouded by human emotions that filter everything. I'd had two sides of the story all along. Acheron's and the unemotional truth. What I never had before was Styxx's point of view. I let my own emotions cloud him to me, and like others, I saw him only as Acheron did. But things aren't always what they seem and people only remember the part of the past they experience and/or have been told. And they seldom know everything. Most of all, we can't look into the heart of someone else. At least not until now.

Styxx is so much more than I ever knew him to be.

As with Zarek and Valerius, I think all of you will agree with me when you read the book. And in many ways, it's another story of Acheron. You will see events that weren't in his book and I know Styxx will win you over. In all honesty, he was done wrong and it will break your heart. Misjudged, condemned, betrayed and abandoned... There's a whole side of him that no one knows. Even now, it brings tears to my eyes.

Below is a list of the books in which Styxx is mentioned or seen in the Dark-Hunter series.

Bring it on! As long as the author doesn't change basic previous facts to bring Styxx into a better person, just shows us his reality from a different standpoint, I am good with Styx having his own book. I really want Savitar's book, however. That's the one for which I am really impatiently waiting.

I think (among Kenyon fans anyway) the shock of her actually writing Styxx's story has us intrigued. A bunch of us would love Savitar and Jaden's stories, and I honestly thought her next "big" book would be one of theirs, but she obviously felt inspired for this one, and I'm on board with that. I'm a great fan of "villain turns hero" books, so this is likely going to be right up my ally.

I too had a hard time getting through the first half of Acheron. It was just too painful, so I'm not looking forward to the whole gut wrenching aspect, but "no pain, no gain" as they say. Kenyon is phenomenal in keeping her characters and story arcs consistent, and frankly, I'm just dying to see how she does this with Styxx.

I don't know why people are surprised that there is a Styxx book. It makes sense that eventually she would tell his side of the story. There is too much pain and sorrow for there to not be more to the story. Besides, after everything doesn't he deserve a happy ending too. Well as happy an ending you can get while still existing in the DH universe.

All through the stories you see how clouded his version of everything is. He was mislead to believe horrible things about Ash that much is clear and in the more recent books he is trying to make up for it...he is trying to redeem....it will be great and Sherrilyn has a way of making you root for everyone even when you shouldnt (Jaden among many examples)....cant wait

I was sooooooooooooo excited when Sherrilyn announced he was getting his own book! Unlike the most, Styxx always draw me to him. I saw beyond what we read. I always saw his attempt to kill Ash as a desperate act of someone who wanted to die. He said it himseld in "Night embrace".
That made me wonder the reason behind that desire, a happy person don't want to die... And knowing how tragic were the past of most characters in DH series I knew Styxx wasn't the exception.
And even in "Acheron" I couldn't hate Styxx. Of course i didn't like all those horribles thing they did to Ash but... I don't know I always had faith in Styxx
The wait is killing me!! I know I'll cry as much as i did with Ash book, but it's going to be so good see Styxx happy at the end! Can't wait!

If anyone can pull this off, Sherrilyn Kenyon can. I was a little surprised when she announced Styxx was getting a book, but it was good. I am so looking forward to reading it. And the previews on her FB page are good. I hope she does Jaden, too! Still so curious about him.

It's about bloody time. I've been waiting for his story since reading Acherons. I just hope it's back to the high standards her writing use to hold. Sams book lacked so much, and Sundowns, didn't even sound like Kenyon, it was so dumbed down it read like a mediocre shadow writer had written it. Hopefully the care she still gives to her other series, which are still a joy to read, will return with Styxx. Besides seeing things from his view, it may help explain more about Ash.

I've just finished Styxx and I cried even then when i read Acheron! It never ceases to amaze me how parallel to real life these characters are you really get into their skin and their pain. I feel that with this book there is a more complete and well rounded view to Ash's existence. Styxx really got the short end of the "Styxx" literally and i feel bad for all the judging i did. I found myself wanting to kick Ash's ass for being so damn oblivious and and wished I could have killed their uncle and sister with my own bare hands! If your own family can't have your back against a cruel world then indeed you really ain't got nothing left! All I can say is wow! I will be waiting to happily preorder the next book in the series as soon as it hits the shelves.

Styxx definitely won me over. I've read Acheron's story and it made me cry but Styxx's recount made me want to kill Ryssa, Xerxes and Estes! I love Acheron but I love Talon more. Now that I know Styxx, I'm definitely Team Styxx. Sorry, Ash.